Minnesota Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Deadly Road Rage Shooting

Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - A deadly road rage incident last year has landed a Minnesota man in prison.

Court records show that 25-year-old Dhaha Hayi Hassan was taken into custody after Minneapolis police responded to a shooting on November 18, 2023. The responding officers found a man, later identified as 34-year-old Randy Burtis, lying on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen.

The criminal complaint in the case says the Minneapolis man was still able to speak with the officers and pointed to Hassan when asked who had shot him. Burtis died from his injuries moments later.

The charges stated that witnesses reported Hassan, who is from New Brighton, was driving the wrong way on a single lane one way street and was blocking traffic. The witnesses told officers Burtis, who was wearing a neck brace due to a recent injury, got out of his vehicle and advised Hassan that he needed to back up to clear the road.

The court document indicates one witness heard Hassan tell the victim "what are you going to do about it?" Burtis then requested that another witness join him next to Hassan's vehicle and an argument ensued. Witnesses reported that Burtis pushed the car door when Hassan attempted to exit his vehicle and that Hassan responded by opening fire on the victim.

The criminal complaint states that the arresting officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from Hassan's vehicle and detected common indicators of marijuana impairment, including red watery eyes and trembling eyelids. The officer also reported finding Hassan in possession of a so-called "ghost gun" without serial numbers.

He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, felony assault, and a felony count of possessing a firearm with no serial number.

The case went to trial in October and a Hennepin County jury found Hassan guilty of unintentional second-degree murder and the weapons charge, but acquitted him of the other murder count and the second-degree assault charge.

Hassan was sentenced this week to 13 1/2 years in prison with credit for the 384 days he was in jail following his arrest. The Minnesota Department of Corrections website indicates that he will be eligible for release in November 2032.